Computer case

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of P.R.C. patent application serial no. 200810145468.4, filed on Aug. 8, 2008. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a case, and more particularly, to a computer case.

2. Description of Related Art

In the present age of information and multimedia, computers, such as servers, workstations, desktop computers, notebook computers, or even industrial computers, have become one of the most indispensable tools in our daily life.

A desktop computer includes a main body, a display, and peripheral devices. The main body further includes a computer case, and various electronic components (for example, a mother board, a central processing unit (CPU), an interface card, and a memory, etc) are disposed inside the computer case. Besides, various storage devices (for example, a hard disk, a floppy disk, and a CD-ROM drive, etc) are also disposed inside the computer case.

However, a computer case should have different structure designs corresponding to different numbers of interface cards and storage devices. For example, the number and positions of openings on a front panel or a rear window of a computer case have to be adjusted according to the numbers of interface cards and storage devices. In this case, the computer case has to be redesigned and remanufactured, which is very costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a computer case having a modular second rear window.

The present invention provides a computer case including a body, a first rear window, a blocking panel, and a plurality of exchangeable modules. The body has a containing opening. The first rear window is assembled to the body and is located within the containing opening. The first rear window has a module opening and a blocking panel opening. One of the exchangeable modules is assembled to the first rear window. The blocking panel is assembled to the first rear window and is located within the blocking panel opening. The blocking panel has a plurality of connector openings.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second rear window has at least one first interface card opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, one of the exchangeable modules has a second rear window and a riser card fastener, and the second rear window is located within a part of the module opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the outline of the second rear window substantially matches the outline of the module opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second rear window has at least one interface card opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second rear window further has at least one storage device opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage device opening is longer than the interface card opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, one of the exchangeable modules has a second rear window, a third rear window, and a riser card fastener, wherein the third rear window is assembled to the second rear window, and the second rear window and the third rear window are located within parts of the module opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the outline of the second rear window and the third rear window after being assembled substantially matches the outline of the module opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second rear window has at least one first interface card opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the third rear window has at least one second interface card opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first interface card opening is longer than the second interface card opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, one of the exchangeable modules has a second rear window and a storage device rack, wherein the second rear window is assembled to the storage device rack, and the second rear window is located within a part of the module opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the module opening is divided into a rear window opening portion and a storage module opening portion, wherein the second rear window is located within the rear window opening portion, and the storage device rack is located within the storage module opening portion.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the outline of the second rear window and the storage device rack after being assembled substantially matches the outline of the module opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the computer case further includes a blocking panel frame assembled between the first rear window and the blocking panel, and the blocking panel frame is located within a part of the blocking panel opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the body has a bottom panel, and the blocking panel frame is fastened to the bottom panel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the exchangeable modules respectively include one of an interface card module and a storage device module.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage device module is a hard disk module.

In the computer case provided by the present invention, the exchangeable modules are assembled to a first rear window so that the exchangeable modules can be conveniently disassembled from the first rear window. Besides, in the computer case provided by the present invention, different exchangeable modules can be flexibly used according to the desired number of interface card openings or storage device openings. Thus, it is not needed to remanufacture the entire computer case when the requirement changes. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the computer case is reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a perspective diagram of a computer case according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a perspective diagram of a body in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a perspective diagram of a first rear window in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a perspective diagram of a blocking panel frame and the first rear window in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a perspective diagram of a second rear window assembled to a riser card fastener in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a perspective diagram of a second rear window assembled to a riser card fastener according to another embodiment of the present invention.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a perspective diagram of a second rear window assembled to a storage device module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a perspective diagram of a computer case according to an embodiment of the present invention, and <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a perspective diagram of a body in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> and <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the computer case <b>100</b> includes a body <b>110</b>, a first rear window <b>122</b>, a blocking panel <b>126</b>, and an exchangeable module <b>100</b><i>a </i>(as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>). The exchangeable module <b>100</b><i>a </i>is assembled to the first rear window <b>122</b> and has a second rear window <b>128</b>. In the present embodiment, the computer case <b>100</b> further includes a blocking panel frame <b>124</b>, and the first rear window <b>122</b>, the blocking panel frame <b>124</b>, the blocking panel <b>126</b>, and the second rear window <b>128</b> may form a complete rear window structure <b>120</b>.

The body <b>110</b> has a containing opening <b>112</b>. The first rear window <b>122</b> is assembled to the body <b>110</b> and is located within the containing opening <b>112</b>. In the present embodiment, the body <b>110</b> further has a bottom panel <b>114</b>, a top panel <b>116</b>, and two side panels <b>118</b>. The bottom panel <b>114</b> and the top panel <b>116</b> are respectively located at two opposite sides of the body <b>110</b>, and the two side panels <b>118</b> are connected between the bottom panel <b>114</b> and the top panel <b>116</b>. The bottom panel <b>114</b>, the top panel <b>116</b>, and the two side panels <b>118</b> define the containing opening <b>112</b>. Besides, the first rear window <b>122</b> is fastened to the bottom panel <b>114</b> and the side panels <b>118</b> through fasteners (for example, screws, not shown).

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a perspective diagram of the first rear window <b>122</b> in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, and <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a perspective diagram of the blocking panel frame <b>124</b> and the first rear window <b>122</b> in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, <b>3</b>, and <b>4</b>, the first rear window <b>122</b> has a module opening <b>122</b><i>b </i>for accommodating the second rear window <b>128</b>. In the present embodiment, the outline of the second rear window <b>128</b> may substantially match the outline of the module opening <b>122</b><i>b</i>. Besides, the first rear window <b>122</b> further has a blocking panel opening <b>122</b><i>a </i>for accommodating the blocking panel frame <b>124</b>.

The blocking panel frame <b>124</b> is assembled to the first rear window <b>122</b> and has a frame opening <b>124</b><i>a</i>. The blocking panel frame <b>124</b> is located within a part of the blocking panel opening <b>122</b><i>a</i>, wherein the frame opening <b>124</b><i>a </i>is part of the blocking panel opening <b>122</b><i>a</i>. In the present embodiment, the blocking panel frame <b>124</b> is fastened to the first rear window <b>122</b> through a fastener <b>130</b> (for example, a rivet). However, in another embodiment of the present invention, the blocking panel frame <b>124</b> may be formed integrally with the first rear window <b>122</b>. In addition, the blocking panel frame <b>124</b> further has a plurality of fixing holes <b>124</b><i>b </i>located at one side of the blocking panel frame <b>124</b> close to the bottom panel <b>114</b> such that the blocking panel frame <b>124</b> can be fastened to the bottom panel <b>114</b> by inserting fasteners (for example, screws, not shown) through these fixing holes <b>124</b><i>b </i>(as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>). As a result, the sturdiness of the structure is improved.

The blocking panel <b>126</b> is assembled to the blocking panel frame <b>124</b> and has a plurality of connector openings <b>126</b><i>a </i>for exposing connectors (for example, a universal serial bus connector and a network connector, etc, not shown) on a mother board. Besides, blocking panel <b>126</b> is located within a part of the frame opening <b>124</b><i>a</i>. Namely, the blocking panel <b>126</b> is located within part of the blocking panel opening <b>122</b><i>a</i>. In the present embodiment, the blocking panel frame <b>124</b> is assembled between the first rear window <b>122</b> and the blocking panel <b>126</b>, so as to assemble the blocking panel <b>126</b> to the first rear window <b>122</b> through the blocking panel frame <b>124</b>.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a perspective diagram of the second rear window <b>128</b> assembled to a riser card fastener in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, the computer case <b>100</b> further includes a riser card fastener <b>140</b>. The riser card fastener <b>140</b> has a fixing portion <b>142</b> for disposing and fastening a riser card (not shown). Besides, the second rear window <b>128</b> has at least one interface card opening I<b>1</b> (two are illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>) for exposing connectors (not shown) on an interface card (not shown). In addition, the second rear window <b>128</b> further has at least one storage device opening S (one is illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>) for exposing at least one storage device, such as a CD-ROM D. In other words, a CD carrier L of the CD-ROM D can exit from the storage device opening S so that a user can place a CD (not shown) on the CD carrier L. In the present embodiment, the storage device opening S is longer than the interface card opening I<b>1</b>. In the present embodiment, the second rear window <b>128</b> and the riser card fastener <b>140</b> are respectively a part of an exchangeable module <b>100</b><i>a</i>, and the exchangeable module <b>100</b><i>a </i>may include an interface card module and a storage device module (the CD-ROM D).

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a perspective diagram of a second rear window assembled to a riser card fastener according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> and <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, the difference between the present embodiment and the embodiment illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is that in the present embodiment, the second rear window <b>128</b> is replaced by a second rear window <b>128</b>′, and the computer case <b>100</b> further includes a third rear window <b>129</b> assembled to the first rear window <b>122</b> and the second rear window <b>128</b>′. The third rear window <b>129</b> is located within a part of the module opening <b>122</b><i>b</i>. The second rear window <b>128</b>′ has at least one first interface card opening I<b>2</b> (three are illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>), and the third rear window <b>129</b> has at least one second interface card opening I<b>3</b> (one is illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>). The first interface card opening I<b>2</b> is longer than the second interface card opening I<b>3</b>. In the present embodiment, the second rear window <b>128</b>′, the third rear window <b>129</b>, and the riser card fastener <b>140</b> are respectively a part of an exchangeable module <b>100</b><i>b</i>. In addition, the outline of the second rear window <b>128</b>′ and the third rear window <b>129</b> after being assembled substantially matches the outline of the module opening <b>122</b><i>b. </i>

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a perspective diagram of a second rear window assembled to a storage device module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> and <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, the difference between the present embodiment and the embodiment illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is that in the present embodiment, the second rear window <b>128</b> is replaced by a second rear window <b>128</b>″. In addition, referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the module opening <b>122</b><i>b </i>is divided into a rear window opening portion O<b>1</b> and a storage module opening portion O<b>2</b>, and the second rear window <b>128</b>″ is located within the rear window opening portion O<b>1</b>. Besides, the second rear window <b>128</b>″ is assembled to a storage device module <b>50</b>. The storage device module <b>50</b> may include two hard disks <b>52</b> and a storage device rack <b>54</b>. The storage device rack <b>54</b> is located within the storage module opening portion O<b>2</b>, and the two hard disks <b>52</b> are disposed in the storage device rack <b>54</b>. A user can replace the hard disks <b>52</b> through the storage module opening portion O<b>2</b>. However, an interface card opening (not shown) may also be disposed in the second rear window <b>128</b>″ according to the actual requirement. In the present embodiment, the second rear window <b>128</b>″ and the storage device rack <b>54</b> are respectively a part of an exchangeable module <b>100</b><i>b. </i>

As described above, in a computer case provided by the present invention, the exchangeable modules are assembled to a first rear window so that the exchangeable modules can be disassembled from the first rear window conveniently. Moreover, in a computer case provided by the present invention, different exchangeable modules can be flexibly used according to the desired number of interface cards or storage devices to be disposed. Thereby, when the requirement changes, it is not needed to remanufacture the entire computer case. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the computer case is reduced.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.